Ak. Mal

How much should I expect a gear change to cost.

I'm about to purchase an 80 with a 4 speed and what seem to be 4.11 gears.

I'd like to drive it on the highway and need lower gears. What ratio should I look for when replacing them?

Is there a market for used gears?

GTR1999

a shop would charge about $800 for a rebuild with new gears,thats if you bring the rear end in. I heard of guys spending $2,000-$2,200 for the shop to do everything. Drop it out yourself and save some bucks.
gary

Glensgages

Ak Mal:
I just had the OEM 2.87 gears in my '82 swapped-out to 3.73s alst few weeks (look for a future thread {when I get a chance to check MPG, or 1/4-mile ET figures} featuring 'driving impressions...).
The total cost: $550.00, parts & labor. The break-down:
new 3.73 gears: $125.00
new drive gear, driven gear, and 'sleeve' to correct the speedo: $55.00
labor (including installing above speedo gears in the 700R4) & miscellaneous parts (gear lube, shims, etc.): $350.00

PigPen

Where did you get the ring/pinion for $125

Glensgages

From Long Island, N.Y., "POWER TRAIN".
I spoke to 'Ronnie" @ 1-631-589-7020. These ARE brand-new, in-the-box, and they DO fit '80-'82 Corvettes.
"Ronnie" seems very nice and informative. He has some ring/pinions in stock, and 'says' he can get more when his supply is exhausted.

This is from a post back when I got them, on 19 August '03.

Additionally
Ak Mal:
unless I'm mistaken, 4.11s will NOT fit the original, series-3 carrier; you might have 3.73s already.
If you DO have 4.11s (AND the series-4 carrier), you'll need a series-3 carrier, ALONG WITH the ring & pinion, to go to 3.73 or numerically lower (3.55s, 3.36s, 3.08s, etc).
Make ya' a Helluva deal on 2.87s.....
:rolleyes: :crazy: :rolleyes: :crazy: :rolleyes:


[Modified by Glensgages, 6:29 PM 10/20/2003]

Ak. Mal

Glensgages:

Thanks for the replies. I pick the car up on Saturday. I have set a deadline of the end of March to have it licensed so I can drive it on my birthday. It needs some work to get it passed Missouri inspection, so that gives me the winter to get the things done I need to.

Expect some questions when I get the car. I will have to figure out which carrier I have and what gears are currently in the car.

Right now, the car pulls real high rpm's in while cruising at low speeds. I asked the seller how accurate the tach was. He guessed pretty accurate but wasn't sure. Is there another way to check engine rpm's?

ram82fire

I have a complete rear to fit for sale 250$ plus shipping ,,,,,,,,,,, 2:87 ratio .

gman

Glensgages

Ak Mal:
#1- (first-things last!) A buddy & I argued over accuracy of the OEM tach in my '79 Z28 years ago. We hooked the Z28 up to an emmission-sniffer that monitered RPM. Holding the pedal at a 'steady' 5000 (by eye), the machine recorded 4970-5020 RPM. the car 'turns' 25 years-old this Friday; I still race with the OEM tach.....
"Your results may vary....."

#2- After you get the Vette (and check accuracy of the tach), get on the open road, with no traffic, and check the tach-vs.-speed recordings (if all else fails, try an Interstate Highway, with 'mileposts' on the side).
'See' what STEADY RPM you need to turn, to cover a mile in a minute (this is 60 MPH).
Next, measure your rear tires for 'circumference' (distance 'around' the tire's tread). You 'can' use the measurement horizontally (side-to-side), multiplied by 'pi' (3.1416).

When you know your RPM @ 60 MPH, and how 'tall' the rear tires are (you DID say you run a 4-speed stick, right?), post your info here.
Once these facts are known, it is really quite simple to figure (with-in a REASONABLE amount) what gear ratio you have.....

Ak. Mal

I definatly do appreciate the info. However, I won't have the car licensed until after winter. Maybe I'll just have to take my chances on a quick shot up the highway and back.

GDaina

how do you know it has 4:11's? did you rotate the tires and count the drive shaft revs?

Fevre

:iagree: Jack up the car off the wheels, rotate the tire one revoluton while counting the times the drive shafts turns. I thought I had a 4:11, well was told is was probably a 4:11, but it turned out to be a 3.70 with low profile tires, prolly like a 3.90 with stock diameter tires.

Ak. Mal

I don't know for sure what gears are in there. I know they are a relatively big number though. The owner told me that they were somewhere around a 3.73-4.11. That is what I'm basing my info on.